A new law intended to counter the UK’s rise in keyless car thefts won’t solve the problem, a leading figure in vehicle security has said.
Last year, more than 61,343 vehicles were reported stolen, the third-highest figure in the past decade and double the 2015 total. And around 40% of those were stolen without their keys, by methods including relay attack, which tricks a car into believing the owner’s key is present.
In 2023, Autocar reported that one website was selling devices – costing from £2500 to £30,000 – capable of taking control of cars including Range Rovers, Ferraris and Lamborghinis via their on-board ‘can bus’ system (which enables the micro-controllers and processors to communicate with each other).
Previously, prosecution for handling these and other devices used to steal vehicles was only possible if it could be proved by the police that they had been used to commit a specific crime. Under the new law, anyone who is found in possession of such a device or found to have imported, made, adapted or distributed one could receive a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine. The owner of the device must prove that they were using it for a legitimate purpose to avoid being prosecuted.
Diana Johnson, minister for policing, crime and fire prevention, said: “These new laws will prevent these devices from getting into the hands of thieves and organised crime groups.
“We will also continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which brings together the police and manufacturers to clamp down on vehicle crime.”
But Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, a company that locates stolen cars with the help of the police, doesn’t believe the new law will stop the criminals.
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This law won't stop them. Actually investigating the crimes, arresting the criminals, imprisoning them and deporting them will.
If your budget gets cut year on year you have to find where to make savings,this usually means cutting manpower which in turn means crimes aren't investigated as well as they should, and even if convictions go up criminals find a new way to steal cars,keyless go, we've had are car so equipped for the past 6 months, we put the Fobs in a Faraday pouch and far enough from the house doors and we've even put them inside a ten box,these are apparently what owners can do, now I know there's probably other ways to clone , some car owners are plain lazy ,so owners need to observe a few simple tips as I mentioned.
Keyless - another inconvience so often forced on the buyer, make it an option only and lets see how many people really want waste £500'ish.